City Slang

1954-1965 The History and Lost Recordings

From Monk to Miles to Mulligan, everybody jammed at this artist’s loft in a decade-long heyday. These two CDs capture one chummy circle of regulars — saxophonists Zoot Sims and Pepper Adams, trombonist Bob Brookmeyer and pianist Mose Allison among them — over a number of years. The sound quality is so-so, the rough edges can make you go uh-oh, but the energy is go-man-go.

Check out other box sets full of music and spoken-word greatness which are stocking the shelves this season.